...And so our heroes ventured forth, smartphones in hand, ready to brave any monster or micro-transaction the fates threw their way. Thus too shall begin a weekly review series on iOS gaming, focusing on RPG’s but occasionally embarking on side-quests into the other genres the expansive platform has to offer. The level 50 Dragoon commuter, the under-the-classroom-desk master trainer, the gamer who enjoys the stories afforded by big name console games, but relishes the freedom of a machine that fits in his back pocket- this will be our party as we embark on our epic quest, reviewing the best and worst that the mobile app world has to offer.
It is only appropriate then that we begin with a game that pays homage to the grandfather of all role-playing games. Knights of Pen & Paper is a love letter to the tabletop roleplaying games of yore. Players are given control of a total of five characters, each a different class: the mage, the warrior, the rogue, and each played by a different archetypical personality: the nerd, the pizza guy, granny. Each personality adds a unique stat bonus, allowing for numerous permutations of the same basic classes. Additionally, players are given control of a sixth player in the dungeon master, allowing for control in molding the story unafforded in most rpg’s.
As players progress they are delighted with their characters' pop-culture and fantasy references, breaking the the constructed illusion within the character's narrative and in doing so adding to the immersion of the game as a whole. Players may find themselves wishing to chime in with their own Lord of the Rings or Dr. Who trivia as they traverse this surprisingly lengthy storyline.
At $1.99, Knights of Pen & Paper is a steal, but the game’s real value is in the fact that the initial purchase fee is all you are asked to pay. Though a micro-transaction option is available to purchase more gold, there is never a need, with the resource abundant in the game. In an age where so many games ask you to pay, and then continue to pay, it is refreshing to find one that simply asks players to pay once. Perhaps this is the ultimate retrospective feature of the game. “Remember back when we used to have to roll dice to see how much damage we did?” “Remember back when we didn’t have to pay three bucks for a better sword?”
Knights of Pen & Paper is available now for iOS and Android, with Mac and PC versions forthcoming. Purchase it now for $1.99, or roughly 800 gold.
Knights of Pen and Paper
© 2012 Behold Studios
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